JP2016169049A - Production process of box of smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for preventing a box from being opened carelessly or unnecessarily.SOLUTION: This invention is a process for producing a box P of a smoking article S, such as cigarettes, and provides the process which includes assembling a packaging material of a packaging blank, or the like around the quantity C of a smoking article S to form a box including the quantity C of the smoking article. An assembled box P includes: a container part H, which holds the quantity C of the smoking article S; a lid L, which is connected to the container part H and is movable between a closed position for preventing the smoking article S in the container from being accessed and an opened position for allowing the smoking article S to be accessed; and a magnetic closure M, which has a first magnetic closure element Mand a second magnetic closure element Mconfigured and arranged so as to apply magnetic force for holding the lid L at the closed position. The process for producing the box P includes combining the first and second magnetic closure elements M, Mtogether or mutually to be arranged on a packaging material for forming the box P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a process for producing a box of consumer goods, in particular cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and other smoking articles. For the sake of brevity and clarity, such items are hereinafter simply referred to as “smoking articles”. The invention also relates to an associated system for producing a box of smoking articles and a box of smoking articles produced thereby.

  Conventional cigarette boxes typically comprise a generally rectangular flip-top box made of a semi-rigid material such as card, cardboard or similar material and forming an outer shell containing a box of cigarettes. The flip top box usually has a hinge lid. The user operates the hinge lid to access the smoking article. This flip top box type box style allows for proper protection of smoking articles. However, after opening and during use of the box, the outer shell of the box is exposed to excessive loads, and the quality of the closed state obtained by the hinge lid may be impaired, especially when the box shape is deformed.

  For these reasons, the Applicant has focused on the challenge of providing a new and improved smoking article box and an associated production process for producing such a box. In particular, the present invention assures a reliable and high quality box closure in a box of smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes) that maintains the shape of the box throughout its lifetime while maintaining mechanical restraints, It also relates to the use of a magnetic closure that can prevent the box from being inadvertently or unnecessarily opened. The invention also relates to a production process that makes it possible to incorporate such a magnetic closure into a box of smoking articles in a reliable and highly repeatable automated manner. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved process for producing boxes of smoking articles. Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved box of smoking articles.

  In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing a box of smoking articles having the features set forth in claim 1. Various advantageous or preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Thus, according to one aspect, the present invention is a production process for producing a box of smoking articles comprising:
Assembling packaging material including a packaging blank around a smoking article to form a box containing the smoking article;
The assembled box includes a container portion that holds a smoking article for a box, and a lid that is movable between a closed position that prevents access to the smoking article in the container section and an open position that allows access to the smoking article. A magnetic closure having a first magnetic closure element and a second magnetic closure element configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force to hold the lid in a closed position;
A process is provided that includes placing or introducing the first and second magnetic closure elements into a packaging material that forms the box, either together or in combination with each other, usually by an automated attachment process or procedure. In other terms, the process includes introducing a second magnetic closure element into or on the packaging material forming the box by combining with the first magnetic closure element.

  Thus, the present invention provides a production process that can be automatically provided with a magnetic closure in a box of smoking articles that is integrated with or compatible with a high speed packaging procedure. The first and second magnetic closure elements are arranged in the packaging material in a combined state, i.e. such that the magnetic closure elements are combined or attached to each other. In this regard, these magnetic closure elements are typically held together or in combination in the packaging material by magnetic attraction acting between these elements. In other words, the process of the present invention utilizes the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic closure elements to produce a box of smoking articles and incorporate one closure element into the other when the closure element itself is incorporated into the box. The position of the closure element is limited and temporarily held. Since the process of the present invention is essentially automated, it is typically repeated to produce multiple boxes of smoking articles with an automated system.

  In a preferred embodiment, the process comprises introducing the first and second magnetic closure elements together or in combination with each other into the box packaging material. Thus, in this embodiment, both magnetic closure elements may be simultaneously introduced into the packaging material in a single operation. That is, both closure elements can be introduced into or on the packaging material in a single step or operation while held together by magnetic forces.

Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a production process for producing a box of smoking articles comprising:
Assembling a packaging material, such as a packaging blank, around a box of smoking articles, for example, by folding and / or bonding the blank, to form a box containing the box of smoking material;
The assembled box has a container portion for holding a smoking material for a box, and a lid movable between a closed position for preventing access to the smoking material in the container portion and an open position for accessing the smoking material. A magnetic closure having a first magnetic closure element and a second magnetic closure element configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force to hold the lid in a closed position;
A process is provided that includes affixing or attaching the first and second magnetic closure elements to the packaging material of the box separately or separately in the combined state.

  That is, the first and second magnetic closure elements may be individually affixed or attached to the packaging material of the box while held together or in combination with each other (eg, by gluing). In this way, the present invention provides a production process that can be automatically provided with a magnetic closure in a box of smoking articles, integrated in a high speed packaging procedure. Specifically, the first and second magnetic closure elements are fixed or attached alone to the box packaging material in a combined state. Thus, it is desirable that the magnetic closure element be affixed or attached to the packaging material in a single operation.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the step of affixing or attaching each of the first and second magnetic closure elements to the packaging material comprises individually bonding or sticking each magnetic closure element to the packaging material substantially simultaneously. In this regard, the process desirably comprises providing a first and second magnetic closure element, respectively, on a substrate, such as a carrier substrate or label, and adhering or sticking the substrate to a packaging material. The substrate may be a common substrate, i.e. common or shared with the first and second magnetic closure elements, and the step of bonding or sticking the substrate to the packaging material is a single step. It may be performed by operation. Thus, this base material or label is an adhesive label, or you may make it apply | coat an adhesive agent separately. Alternatively, an adhesive (such as an adhesive) may be applied at the location where each closure element of the packaging material is affixed or adhered and / or applied to each closure element itself. The adhesive strength of the adhesive that secures each magnetic closure element to the packaging material is preferably greater than the maximum magnetic force that can be exerted between the magnetic closure elements.

  In another possible preferred embodiment, the process comprises introducing a first magnetic closure element in or on the packaging material in a first step or operation, followed by a first magnetic closure element previously attached to the packaging material. Arranging a second magnetic closure element. In this manner, the first and second magnetic closure elements are combined in a state where the second magnetic closure element is disposed on the first magnetic closure element and is held by magnetic attraction to the first magnetic closure element; Introduced in or on the packaging material. Thus, the second magnetic closure element is introduced into or on the packaging material by placing it in combination with the first magnetic closure element already introduced or attached to the packaging material.

  Although the first and second magnetic closure elements may be temporarily held together or attached to each other by magnetic attraction in the packaging material, the process of the present invention still makes the first and second magnetic closure elements different in packaging material, respectively. It shall be attached or adhered to the part. In particular, one of the first and second magnetic closure elements may be affixed or glued to the part forming the lid of the packaging material box and the other affixed to the part of the packaging material box forming the container part or It is preferable to be adhered. Thus, the process includes the step of adhering or adhering the second magnetic closure element to the packaging material when the second magnetic closure element is magnetically held or combined with the first magnetic closure element. It is preferable. When the box production is complete, the first and second magnetic closure elements may be positioned in or on the packaging material so that they are substantially aligned and / or in contact with each other when the lid is in the closed position. desirable.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of the first and second magnetic closure elements of the magnetic closure is a permanent magnet. In this regard, the permanent magnet may be a rare earth magnet such as a neodymium magnet, for example. Alternatively, the permanent magnet can be a layered magnetic material that is directly molded into a packaging material as disclosed in EP 1360071 or an adhesive that is commercially available from manufacturers such as 3M or AMF magnetics. It may consist of a layered magnetic material in the form of a tape. Since the packaging material is basically formed of a semi-rigid sheet material having a thickness of card or cardboard, usually within a range of about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm, the permanent magnet has a thickness within this range, For example, it is preferably about 0.5 mm. This allows the magnetic closure element to be introduced and / or incorporated in or on the packaging material in a relatively inconspicuous manner. Each magnetic closure element preferably shows a surface area in the range of about 50 mm ² to 200 mm ^2, such as about 75 mm ^2,. For example, the permanent magnet may be provided as a circular or disk-shaped element having a diameter of about 10 mm. Although both the first and second magnetic closure elements may be permanent magnets, one of the first and second magnetic closure elements reacts with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet of the other magnetic closure element rather than the magnet. It is preferably made of a material such as an iron-based material. In this way, elements made of magnetically sensitive (eg ferrous) materials have an undesirable effect on the ferrous metal (eg steel) of packaging machines used in the process of producing boxes for smoking articles. It may not be easy.

  In a preferred embodiment, the packaging blank made of semi-rigid material has a substantially flat or planar shape in an unassembled (ie blank) state. In the assembly process, as is known in the art, the blank is usually folded into a box having a generally cubic shape. The lid of the box is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, usually by a hinged connection. The material of the blank is preferably a semi-rigid sheet material such as card, cured paper, cardboard, fiberboard, polymer sheet material. These semi-rigid materials may be relatively easy to bend regardless of their configuration, but they usually provide structural stability to the box of smoking articles to prevent damage during transportation and storage (eg, unintentional compression or shock). ) Dimensionally stable to protect the packaging and smoking material from.

  In a preferred embodiment, the first and second magnetic closure elements are introduced into the packaging material prior to assembling or folding the packaging blank around a box of smoking material to form the box. In this regard, these magnetic closure elements may be placed or introduced into or on the blank prior to the process of assembling the blank around a box of smoking material. For example, a preliminary operation in blank preparation may include securing or bonding one of the magnetic closure elements to the blank. The one magnetic closure element that is applied or glued to the blank is preferably positioned on the part of the blank box that forms the lid, in particular the inner surface of the lid or the edge region of the lid. The other magnetic closure element may then be placed and held in combination with said one magnetic closure element by magnetic attraction. Thus, a packaging blank supplied to or carried by a packaging machine in the production process optionally includes first and second magnetic closure elements (eg, permanent magnets and magnetism sensing elements) pre-attached thereto. It may be selectively included. However, as an alternative, the packaging blank supplied for use in the above process includes only a first magnetic closure element, which is assembled by assembling the packaging blank around a box of smoking articles. Or it may be placed on the first magnetic closure element before it is folded to form the box.

  In a preferred embodiment, the packaging material is wrapped around the box of smoking articles prior to the step of combining the box of smoking articles with a packaging blank that is assembled or folded to form a box. Or an inner frame that is folded (eg, made of card or paper). Thus, in this embodiment, the magnetic closure element is mounted or introduced in or on the inner frame, preferably at a position facing the inner surface of the lid in the assembled box or at a position facing the edge area of the lid. May be. Similar to the above embodiment, preliminary operations in frame preparation may include attaching or securing one of the magnetic closure elements to the frame. In practice, one of the first and second magnetic closure elements is pre-mounted or glued to all inner frames used in the production process, and the other magnetic closure element is later placed and combined with the one magnetic closure. And may be held.

  In another possible embodiment of the invention, the first and second magnetic closure elements are in or on the packaging material forming the box after the process of assembling or folding the packaging blank around a box of smoking articles. be introduced. In this regard, the process comprises opening the box after assembly and introducing, attaching and / or inserting first and second magnetic closure elements in or on a portion of the container portion and / or lid. May be. This process is automated and is preferably performed by a stand-alone device with means for opening and closing the box lid and a pick and place device for repeatable and accurate placement and attachment of the magnetic closure element. May be. After the step of opening the box (i.e., the box lid), the first and second magnetic closure elements may be introduced together and subsequently attached or adhered to the box lid and container portion substantially simultaneously. In this regard, the process usually involves reclosing the box, for example before wrapping the box with a barrier film.

  As mentioned above, one of the first and second magnetic closure elements is preferably affixed or glued to the part of the packaging material box forming the lid, and the other is attached to the part of the packaging material box forming the container part. It is preferable to stick or bond. Thus, the first and second magnetic closure elements interact between the movable lid of the box and the container part, regardless of whether the introduction into or onto the packaging material is before or after the process of assembling the blank. To be arranged. In this way, the magnetic closure is tactile to the user that the lid is securely closed and / or when the lid moves to the closed position and the first and second magnetic closure elements come into contact. It is desirable to be able to give an auditory sensation of being securely closed by a “click” sound.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second magnetic closure elements are each glued, for example adhesively bonded, to the packaging material. In this regard, the adhesive strength of the adhesive that secures these magnetic closure elements to the packaging material is greater than the maximum magnetic force that can be exerted by or between these magnetic closure elements.

  In particularly preferred embodiments, either or both of the first and second magnetic closure elements may be affixed or adhered to the packaging material by a carrier substrate such as a label that is adhered or adhered to the packaging material. In this regard, this label is a sticky label or an adhesive may be applied separately. As another option, the adhesive liquid may be applied to the location where each magnetic closure element of the packaging material is affixed or adhered, or to each magnetic closure element itself.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or both of the first and second magnetic closure elements may be received and accommodated in respective recesses provided in the packaging material. In this regard, each recess may be provided in a portion of the packaging blank, lid, container portion and / or frame for receiving and receiving the first and second magnetic closure elements.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the process may further comprise wrapping a box of smoking articles in a flexible barrier film. Note that in this case the magnetic closure element is introduced into the packaging material forming the box before it is wrapped in the flexible barrier film. The process of the present invention is intended to be performed repeatedly, and is therefore for producing a plurality of boxes of smoking articles, for example by an automated system.

According to another aspect, the present invention is a process for producing a box of smoking articles comprising:
Assembling packaging material including a packaging blank around a smoking article to form a box containing the smoking article;
The assembled box includes a container portion that holds a smoking article for a box, and a lid that is movable between a closed position that prevents access to the smoking article in the container section and an open position that allows access to the smoking article. A magnetic closure comprising a first magnetic closure element and a second magnetic closure element arranged and arranged to overlap and exert a magnetic force to hold the lid in a closed position;
Affixing or adhering the second magnetic closure element to the packaging material while or while being held with or in combination with the first magnetic closure element Provide a process.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of affixing or adhering the second magnetic closure element to the packaging material when the second magnetic closure element is in conjunction with or in combination with the first magnetic closure element is based on the second magnetic closure element. Providing on the material or label and then bonding or sticking the substrate or label to the packaging material.

  As described, the first and second magnetic closure elements are positioned within the assembled box so that they are substantially aligned and / or in contact with each other when the lid is in the closed position. When one of the magnetic closure elements is incorporated in a part of the lid and the other magnetic closure element is incorporated in a part directly opposite or adjacent to the lid of the container part, the magnetic attraction exerted by the magnetic closure elements overlaps the lid in the closed position. Acts to hold on. Furthermore, as described above, at least one of the first and second magnetic closure elements is preferably a permanent magnet, and the other magnetic closure element may be made of a material that senses magnetism, such as an iron-based material. .

According to another aspect, the present invention is a box of smoking articles comprising:
A container portion defining a cavity for holding a box of smoking articles;
A lid movable between a closed position for preventing access to the smoking article in the container portion and an open position for accessing the smoking article;
A box of smoking articles is provided with a magnetic closure having a first magnetic closure element and a second magnetic closure element configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force relative to each other to hold the lid in a closed position.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second magnetic closure elements are arranged so that they are substantially aligned and / or in contact with each other when the lid is in the closed position, for example in the lid edge region or surface and in the container part. Is positioned. In this regard, the first magnetic closure element is preferably provided in or on the lid of the box, in particular on the front inner surface of the lid or on the edge region of the lid. On the other hand, the second magnetic closure element is preferably provided at a position directly facing or adjacent to the first magnetic closure element in or on the container. In this way, the magnetic attraction exerted by the overlapping magnetic closure elements acts to hold the lid in the closed position.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second magnetic closure elements are received and received in respective recesses provided in the packaging material of the box. In this regard, a recess may be provided in a portion of the lid (eg, the edge region or surface) and / or the container portion for receiving and receiving each magnetic closure element.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second magnetic closure elements are glued, for example adhesively, to the lid and / or container part of the box. The adhesive strength of the adhesive that secures the magnetic closure element to the box is made greater than the maximum magnetic force exerted by the magnetic closure element. Preferably, the first and second magnetic closure elements are attached to the lid and / or container portion of the box by a carrier substrate such as a label that is adhered or adhered to the packaging material. In this regard, the label is preferably an adhesive label, or an adhesive may be applied separately.

  In order that the invention and its advantages may be more fully understood, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts.

It is a schematic perspective view of the packaging system used for implementation of the process which produces the box of smoking articles concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the packaging system used for implementation of the process which produces the box of smoking articles concerning other embodiments of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the cigarette box concerning one Embodiment produced by the process concerning embodiment of this invention in the state which has a lid in a closed position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cigarette box of FIG. 2 with a lid in an open position. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a packaging blank and frame for the cigarette box of FIGS. 2 and 3. It is the perspective view which showed the box which is a cigarette box concerning other embodiment, Comprising: The box which is produced by the process concerning other embodiment of this invention in the state which has a lid in a closed position. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the cigarette box of FIG. 5 with the lid in the open position. It is the perspective view which showed the box which is a cigarette box concerning another embodiment, Comprising: The box produced by the process concerning another embodiment of this invention in the state which has a lid in a closed position. It is the perspective view which showed the cigarette box of FIG. 7 in the state which has a lid in an open position. FIG. 4 is a plan view of another possible packaging blank and frame for the box of FIGS. 2 and 3.

  The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and, together with the following description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description.

  In order to facilitate a more abstract view of the embodiments, general and / or well-understood elements that may be useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are not necessarily drawn. Will be recognized. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. In addition, in method embodiments, certain actions and / or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence, but those skilled in the art are not required to be particular about such an order. It will be appreciated that we understand that there is no. The terms and expressions used herein have their ordinary meanings as given for such terms and expressions with respect to each corresponding research area, unless stated differently. Will also be understood.

  Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is schematically shown a system 100 for packaging a smoking article S, in particular a cigarette. This system 100 can be used, for example, as commercially available from the Italian manufacturer G.I. D. S. p. A. Based on the X3 packaging system. This system 100 is easily adopted or applied to the production process of the box P of cigarettes S according to the preferred embodiment. This process is highly automated, for example, producing boxes P in the range of 50-500 boxes or more per minute.

  The packaging system 100 includes several subsystems 10, 20, 30, 40 that are adapted to perform specific operations in the overall packaging procedure. In this regard, the subsystem 10 functions to collect a plurality of cigarettes S from the buffer or hopper 11 and to divide these cigarettes into a box or a quantity C for filling each box P. . Thus, each quantity C is usually composed of, for example, a group of 20 cigarettes or a collection of seven, six, or seven three rows or layers. However, it will be appreciated that the number of rows and / or the number of cigarettes S in each row may vary depending on the design of the box P. In this subsystem 10, a first packaging material, usually in the form of foil or paper, is fed as a rectangular sheet 12 fed from a continuous web 13 drawn from a roll 14. These rectangular sheets 12 of foil or paper are then wound around a lump of cigarettes S or a quantity C as it is transported around the carousel 15. In this way, the wound sheet 12 protects the cigarette S from external influences and helps maintain the freshness of the chopped cigarettes contained therein, while holding each quantity C together in a desired configuration. To help. The amount C of the smoking article or cigarette S around which the sheet 12 is wrapped is transported from the carousel 15 to another carousel 16 for transport to the next subsystem 20.

The subsystem 20 includes a roll 21 of a second packaging material such as a flexible card or a hardened paper, and the second packaging material is drawn from the roll 21 as a continuous web 22 and conveyed to a cutting station 23. In the cutting station 23, the tip region of the web 22 is cut, and an inner frame F attached to each quantity C of the cigarette S around which the sheet 12 is wound is formed. The inner packaging frame F is designed to give additional dimensional stability to each quantity C and also provides a structural part of the box P to be produced, in particular a male structural support for closing the lid. Forming a structural part for When cut from the web 22, but the inner frame F is substantially flat, usually contains at least the front panel F ₁ and two side flaps F _2, the inner frame F is at least partially the amount C of this cigarette It is attached to this quantity C by bending so that it may surround. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the folding of the inner frame F and the attachment of the frame to each cigarette quantity C takes place in a carousel 24 arranged downstream of the cutting station 23. Individual quantities C are carried by the carousel 16 of the subsystem 10 to the carousel 24 and are each combined with the inner frame F. The frame mounting carousel 24 then transports the cigarette quantity C to the next subsystem 30 of the packaging system.

  Subsystem 30 includes piles 31 of packaging blanks B that are individually conveyed along conveyor belt 32 and quality checked (eg, by optical sensors) before being sent or carried by roller 33 to blank assembly carousel 34. . Each packaging blank B is typically formed from a card or cardboard or the like, and is a generally rectangular cigarette box that is known in the art (eg, by bending and / or optionally adhesive bonding). Configured to have a series of panels, flaps, and fold or score lines for assembly. The quantity C of the cigarette S to which the frame F is attached is sequentially carried to the blank assembly carousel 34 by the carousel 24 of the subsystem 20, where each quantity C is combined with one packaging blank B each. When the amount C of the cigarette and the blank B attached thereto travel around the carousel 34, the blank B is gradually folded and assembled around the amount C around which the sheet 12 is wound. When the blank B is assembled, it is combined with the frame F to form a box P containing a quantity C of cigarette S. The box P is then transported from the blank assembly carousel 34 to another subsystem 40 via another carousel 35. This subsystem 40 is a box in which boxes P are deposited and temporarily held as they pass through a handling and / or inspection station 42 to a conveyor 43 for transport to a final packaging station (not shown). A buffer 41 is included.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a box P of cigarettes S produced in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and a packaging blank B and frame F corresponding to the embodiment. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembled box P is hinged to the container part H that holds the amount C of the cigarette S and the container part H so that the smoking article S in the container part H is not accessed. It can be seen that it includes a lid L that is movable or pivotable between a closed position (shown in FIG. 2) and an open position (shown in FIG. 3) that allows access to the smoking article S. Furthermore, the box P in order to hold the lid L in the closed position, the magnetic closure with structure to exert a force against one another, a first magnetic closure elements M ₁ and the second magnetic closure element M ₂ which are arranged M including. As is apparent from FIG. 2, this embodiment is an embodiment in which the box P has a substantially rectangular shape in a flip-top box style when the lid L is shown in a closed position. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the first magnetic closure element M ₁ is incorporated into the front inner surface of the lid L of the box P. On the other hand, the second magnetic closure element M ₂ is positioned so as to be aligned and directly adjacent to the first magnetic closure element M ₁ when the lid is in the closed position, and is provided in or on the front surface of the container portion H. In this way, the first and second magnetic attraction between the magnetic closure elements M _1, M ₂ of the magnetic closure M is clear and reliable between the lid L and the container portion H of the box P when the lid L is closed Provide engagement. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the first magnetic closure element M ₁ is a flap of the packaging blank B, which is folded when assembling the blank B to form the box P in the carousel 34, so that the inner surface of the lid L is Built into the flap that forms. The second magnetic closure element M ₂ is packaging blank B on the first is provided or disposed on the magnetic closure element M ₁ of, it is held there during the temporarily boxes produced by the magnetic attraction. During the assembly of the blank B in the carousel 34, the inner frame F is combined with the blank B, and a part of the container portion H of the box P, more specifically, to the cigarette S when the lid L is open. forming a notch upper front portion of the container portion H containing F _C to facilitate access. When the blank B is assembled in the carousel 34, temporarily held in the first on the magnetic closure elements M _1, position the second magnetic closure element M ₂ which is restricted is marked with a broken line in FIG. 4 of the frame F Adhesive pasting or bonding is performed at the position.

In this embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4, the first magnetic closure element M ₁ may already be incorporated in each packaging blank B supplied to the pile 31 of the subsystem 30 for carrying to the assembly carousel 34. As the first magnetic closure element M ₁ of are stacked blank B is uninterrupted separate handling of the packaging blank B of the subsystem 30 to affect each other, each first magnetic closure element M ₁ has a diameter of about 10 mm, a thickness It may be a ferrous metal disk having a thickness of about 0.5 mm or less. The disc M _1, for example during production of the blank B, may be tacky adhesive to the lid flaps of the packaging blank B. On the other hand, the second magnetic closure element M ₂ is likewise a diameter of about 10 mm, a thickness of about 0.5mm thin circular small permanent magnet formed as a disk, may be, for example, a neodymium magnet, a first magnetic closure element M ₁ may be individually mounted on each first magnetic closure element M ₁ as it is conveyed to the assembly carousel 34 by the conveyor 32 and / or rollers 33 of the subsystem 30 or thereafter. Thus, each disk-like permanent magnet element M ₂ may be held in place on the complementary ferrous metal disk element M _{1 of} the blank B until it is adhesively bonded to the frame F in the subsystem 30. Alternatively, the first magnetic closure element M ₁ incorporated in each packaging blank B is a permanent magnet, and the adjacent blank magnets M ₁ are simply negative in the subsystem 30 as the blank B moves through the system 100. It is also possible to handle the blank B so as not to interfere with each other. In that case, the second magnetic closure element M ₂ mounted or arranged on the first magnetic closure element M ₁ , for example upstream of or in the carousel 34, is a thin ferrous metal disk (or other magnetic sensing element). it is in the form of a metal) to be, or second magnetic closure element M ₂ itself may be a second permanent magnet.

Referring to FIG. 1A, when transported toward the carousel 34 in order to assemble by folding and bonding each blank B to carry in the subsystem 30 maintains a first magnetic closure elements M _1, the pick-and-place subsystem 50 each second magnetic closure element M ₂ may be put attached or on each first magnetic closure element M _1. Alternatively, both the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ may be attached to or placed on each blank B in a combined state. That is, the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ may be held together by magnetic attraction and placed or attached to the blank B by the pick and place subsystem 50. In doing this, the first element M ₁ that contacts the blank B may be adhesively bonded to the blank B with the second magnetic closure element M ₂ held in place by magnetic attraction. For this purpose, it is advantageous to apply the adhesive to one of the blank B and / or the first magnetic closure element M ₁ itself. Thus, in such an embodiment, the magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ are individually separated by an automated transport means such as, for example, a multi-axis arm known to be used in pick and place systems in the electronics industry. Or can be processed from the supply section in the subsystem 50 in a combined state.

In another possible embodiment of this process, the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ in the box of FIGS. 2-4 may be connected to a second pick and drop, for example as shown in FIG. 1A. It will be noted that the place subsystem 60 may be combined on the inner frame F at the cutting station 23 or downstream thereof and introduced into the packaging material. This second pick and place subsystem is advantageously similar if it is not identical in structure and function to the subsystem 50 described above. In this case, the first magnetic closure element M _1, for the adhesion to the inner surface of the lid L in the assembly of the blank B in the delivery and the carousel 34 to the carousel 34, a second magnetic closure element M ₂ first magnetic closure It can be affixed or glued to the front frame panel F ₁ while temporarily held in place on the element M ₁ . That is, the blank B is folded and / or bonded around the portion C of the smoking article S with or carrying the inner frame F in the carousel 34 according to standard manufacturing processes.

As described above, the adhesive attachment or adhesion of the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M _{2 to} the packaging blank B and the inner frame F is performed by, for example, applying a liquid adhesive to the blank B and the inner frame F. Subsequently, the magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ (for example, permanent magnets or metal disks) may be subsequently attached to the blank B and the inner frame F. However, as another option, a sticky label such as a sticky label that can be easily (eg by pressure) attached to one or both of the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ . Substrates may be provided and these may be “sticked” onto each blank B and frame F. For example, a magnetic closure element M _2, when assembling the blank, attaching to the adhesive labels or quickly and easily the surface of the inner frame F by pressing the base material to the surface of the inner frame F this by activated Can do. The blank B and the frame F to which the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ are respectively fixed or bonded each include a recess R for receiving and receiving _{one of} the closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ , respectively. May be. Recess R is an opening or a hole through the blank B or frame F, closely receiving the magnetic closure elements M _1, M ₂ in the opening portion, adhesive protruding from the periphery of the magnetic closure elements M _1, M ₂ The label may be adhered to the area surrounding the opening or hole of the blank B or frame F.

In another possible embodiment of the above process, represented in FIG. 1B, the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ in the box of FIGS. It will be noted that after forming the box P around the amount of the article S, it may be attached or affixed to the inner surface of the lid L and the front surface of the container portion H, respectively. In such an embodiment, each box P is produced so as not to contain a magnetic closure M, i.e. like a standard flip top box type smoking article package. This provides the most important advantage of not requiring modifications to add a pick and place system such as subsystems 50, 60 in the packaging line of FIG. 1A to the existing packaging line. As a result, there is no decrease in production speed and undesired interactions between each magnetic closure element M ₁ , M ₂ (eg, during folding of blank B and frame F) and other parts of system 100 can be avoided. .

In accordance with the invention depicted in FIG. 1B, the box P flowing from the buffer 41 along the inspection or handling station 42 may be processed by a stand-alone subsystem 70 that is connected to the packaging system 100. Additional introduction may be performed. The subsystem 70 includes means for opening and closing the lid L of the box P and the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ before further transporting on the conveyor 43 to close the lid again and wrap the box P in a protective sealing film. , M ₂ together or in combination, a pick and place device (not shown) configured to be inserted into the box P and bonded thereto may be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the above drawings, a box P of cigarettes S produced in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Again, the assembled box P has a container portion H that holds the amount C of the cigarette S, a closed position that prevents access to the smoking article S in the container portion H (shown in FIG. 5), and the smoking article S. It can be seen that it includes a lid L hinged to the container portion H to pivot between an open position (shown in FIG. In addition, the box P likewise has a magnetic closure having first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force on each other to hold the lid L in the closed position. M is included. In this embodiment, both the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ are small rectangular elements that are both visible when the lid L is in the closed position, as seen in FIG. . The first magnetic closure element M ₁ is arranged in the edge region E of the lid L, and the second magnetic closure element M ₂ is set to the corresponding contact edge D in the container part H of the box P, for example the front of the blank B It is fixed between the panel and the inner frame F.

The boxes P of FIGS. 5 and 6 are preferably produced according to the process described with reference to FIG. 1B, and the magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ are placed on the lids of the boxes P after the folding and assembly of the blank B is completed. is introduced into the recess R of the corresponding formed on the contact edge D of the L front edge region E or front panel of L _F and the container portion H. As in the previous embodiment, one of the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ may be a permanent magnet and the other may be a ferrous metal or other magnetic sensing material, or both may be permanent magnets. It can also be. In this case, both the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ may be introduced together or in combination after assembly of the packaging blank B in the carousel 34. Specifically, the combined first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ can be attached to each box P as it travels from the buffer 41 via the handling or inspection station 42. To do this, the stand-alone subsystem 70 depicted in FIG. 1B is combined with the first before the box P is transported via the conveyor 43 for packaging with a protective sealing film. And at least one pick and place device (not shown) capable of inserting and bonding the second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ into the box P. The means for attaching these magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ in FIGS. 5 and 6 to the box P are those for the box P of FIGS. 2 to 4, ie by means of adhesives and / or substrates or labels. May be.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the above drawings, a box P of cigarettes S produced in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The positions of the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ in this embodiment are similar to the arrangements in FIGS. 5 and 6, but in this case the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M _2. Is an elongated strip-shaped element rather than rectangular, for example a permanent magnet strip or a metal strip. Nevertheless, the magnetic closure M is located along the lower edge region E of the lid L, and each closure element is preferably introduced or attached by the process depicted in FIG. 1B. These strip-like closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ are preferably affixed to the box P with an adhesive carrier substrate or label.

Referring now to FIG. 9 of the above drawings, another embodiment of the process for forming the box shown in FIGS. 2-4 may be performed by the system 100 of FIG. 1B. The first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ in the box P are attached and attached to the inner surface of the lid L and the front surface of the container portion H, respectively, after assembling the blank B to form the box P. As seen in FIG. 9, the flap that forms the front portion of the lid L when the blank B is assembled with the carousel 34 of the packaging blank B includes openings or recesses R arranged side by side. A corresponding circular region R ′ (shown by a broken line) is shown in the center panel F ₁ of the inner frame F. This circular area R ′ is aligned with the opening or recess R when the lid L is in the closed position after the box P is assembled. More specifically, during the assembly of the blank B in the carousel 34, the inner frame F is combined with the blank B to form a part of the container portion H of the box P, specifically, the cigarette when the lid L is open. forming a notch upper front portion of the container portion H containing F _C to facilitate access to the S. Thus, after assembling the blank B, the box P includes an opening R that is aligned with the region R ′ on the frame F and penetrates the front of the lid L. As the box P advances from the buffer 41 through the handling station 42, the first and second magnetic closures in which the robot arms of the pick and place device (not shown) of the subsystem 70 are held together in combination. Elements M ₁ and M ₂ are introduced or attached to each box P. Further, each magnetic closure element M ₁ , M ₂ is individually fixed or adhered to the packaging material of the box P before each box P is wrapped in the protective film.

In this embodiment, each first magnetic closure element M ₁ is preferably a ferrous metal disk having a diameter of about 10 mm and a thickness of about 0.5 mm or less. On the other hand, the second magnetic closure element M ₂ is likewise a diameter of about 10 mm, small permanent magnets is formed as a thin circular disc having a thickness of about 0.5 mm, for example, it may be a neodymium magnet. Each first magnetic closure elements M ₁ and the second magnetic closure elements M ₂ are combined separately before being gripped together pick and place device of the subsystem 70 of Figure 1B (not shown). Thus, ferrous disc elements M ₁ metals are held in place on the permanent magnet elements M ₂ of the disk-shaped complementary. Alternatively, it can be a first magnetic closure element M ₁ also permanent magnets. In that case, the second magnetic closure element M ₂ which is combined or with which is disposed on a first magnetic closure elements M ₁ may remain permanent magnet, but alternatively sense the iron-based metal or other magnetic It may be a thin disk made of a material to be used. When positioned to face contact with each other, the magnetic force one of the magnetic closure elements M _1, M ₂ exerts with respect to the other, are held together in a state magnetic closure elements M _1, M ₂ is the combined thereof disk-shaped The

The opening R formed through the lid L of the box P is slightly larger than the disk-shaped first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ and M ₂ . The first magnetic closure element M ₁ is a carrier substrate or layer that protrudes significantly from the outer periphery of the disk-shaped first element M ₁ , preferably a rectangular geometry corresponding to the front face of the lid L or the panel L _F. It is provided on a carrier substrate or layer having a shape. The second magnetic closure element M ₂ of disc shape may contain a carrier base, but this is not protrude from the circular periphery of the element M ₂ of the disk-shaped. Thus, when the first and second magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ are introduced and attached to the box P, the pick and place device grabs these closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ held together by magnetic attraction, these are firstly the second magnetic closure element M ₂ enters through the opening R of the disc-shaped, the opening R of the front L _F of the lid L so as to be in contact with the frame F at the position of the circular region R 'through insert. By pre-applying adhesive to the carrier substrate of the circular element R ′ and / or the disk-shaped second element M ₂ , the second magnetic closure element M ₂ is then stuck to the frame F in the circular area R ′. Glued. Since the second magnetic closure element M ₂ is pressed against the frame F, the disk-shaped first magnetic closure element M ₁ is also received by the opening R of the front face L _F of the lid L. At this point, the first magnetic closure element carrier substrate or layer on M ₁ having a rectangular geometric shape corresponding to the front L _F of the lid L is there in contact with the front surface L _F of the lid L Pasted or glued. In particular, the adhesive on the front L _F and / or rectangular carrier base of the lid L (e.g., as an adhesive label) by preliminarily applying a first magnetic closure elements M _2, the opening or the recess R And adhesively bonded to the lid L. The use of an adhesive substrate or label in this embodiment can be advantageous for achieving a high-speed connection of the magnetic closure elements M ₁ , M ₂ to the packaging material of the box P. The advantage of the technique of attaching the elements M ₁ and M ₂ of the magnetic closure M through the opening R is that it is not necessary to open the lid L of the box P after the packaging blank B is assembled.

  While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are various alternative and / or equivalent implementations. It should be recognized that this or these exemplary embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, availability, or structure in any way. Rather, the foregoing general description and detailed description provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, and the appended claims and their It will be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope as set forth in the legal equivalents. Overall, this application is intended to cover any applications or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

  Further, in this document, “comprise, comprising”, “include, including”, “contain, containing”, “having, having”, and variations thereof are comprehensive. Intended to be understood in a general (ie, non-exclusive) sense, and the processes, methods, apparatus or systems described herein are limited to the listed features or parts or elements or steps. Accordingly, it may include other elements, features, parts, or steps not explicitly described or inherent in such processes, methods, articles, or apparatus. Further, as used herein, “a” and “an” are intended to be interpreted as meaning one or more unless clearly stated to the contrary. Further, “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are merely used as labels and impose numerical requirements on those objects, or It is not intended to rank a certain importance.

100 Packaging System 10 Subsystem 11 Buffer or Hopper 12 Rectangular Sheet 13 Web 14 Roll 15 Carousel 16 Carousel 20 Subsystem 21 Roll 22 Web 23 Cutting Station 24 Carousel 30 Subsystem 31 Mountain 31 Conveyor Belt 33 Roller 34 Blank Assembly Carousel 35 Carousel 40 Subsystem 41 Box buffer 42 Handling and / or inspection station 43 Conveyor 50 Subsystem 60 Subsystem 70 Subsystem S Smoking article or cigarette C Cose amount of smoking article or cigarette P Box F Packaging frame or inner frame F ₁ Front panel F ₂ side flaps F _C notch B packaging blank M magnetic closure M ₁ first magnetic closure element M ₂ second magnetic black Eger element H Container part L Lid L Front face or panel of _F E Edge area D Contact edge R Recess or opening R 'Circular area

Claims (15)

A production process for producing a box (P) of smoking articles (S),
Assembling a packaging material such as a packaging blank (B) around the quantity (C) of the smoking article (S) to form a box (P) containing the quantity (C) of the smoking article (S);
The assembled box (P) includes a container part (H) that holds the amount (C) of the smoking article (S), a closed position that prevents access to the smoking article (S) in the container part, and the A lid (L) movable between an open position for accessing the smoking article (S) and a first magnet configured and arranged to exert a magnetic force to hold the lid (L) in the closed position A magnetic closure (M) having a closure element (M ₁ ) and a second magnetic closure element (M ₂ );
A production process comprising placing the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) together or in combination with each other within the packaging material forming the box (P). The process according to claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) are introduced into or on the packaging material of the box (P) together or in combination with each other. After the first magnetic closure element (M ₁ ) has been introduced into or on the packaging material, the second magnetic closure element (M ₁ ) on the first magnetic closure element (M ₁ ) already attached to the packaging material. The process of claim ₁ , wherein M ₂ ) is positioned, thereby combining the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ). It said first and second magnetic closure element (M _{1, M 2)} is any of the processes of claims 1 to 3, wherein combined are held together or to each other by magnetic attraction. The first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) are each attached to or attached to different parts of the packaging material, and the magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) A process according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein L) is positioned to be substantially aligned or in contact with each other when in the closed position. The step of affixing or adhering the second magnetic closure element (M ₂ ) to the packaging material includes holding or combining the second magnetic closure element (M ₂ ) with the first magnetic closure element (M ₁ ) magnetically. 6. The process of claim 5, wherein the process is carried out when being held together or held together. The first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) are placed in or on the packaging material before assembling the packaging blank (B) around the quantity (C) of the smoking article (S), for example The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is introduced in or on the packaging blank (B). The packaging material is a frame (F) that is wrapped or folded around the quantity (C) of the smoking article (S) before the quantity (C) of the smoking article (S) is combined with the packaging blank (B). The first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) are located in or on the inner frame (F), preferably facing the inner surface of the lid (L) in the closed position. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is attached to or introduced into the apparatus. The first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) are configured to assemble the box (P) after the step of assembling the packaging blank (B) around the quantity (C) of the smoking article (S). The process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is introduced into the packaging material to be formed. The box (P) is opened and the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ), in particular by means of automatic introduction or attachment of the closure elements, the container part (H) or the lid ( and introducing or attached to a portion of the L), the magnetic closure elements (M _{1, M 2)} the process of claim 9, further comprising a said lid closed after the introduction of. One of the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) is attached or adhered to a portion of the packaging material that forms the lid (L) of the box (P), and the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) the other second magnetic closure element _{(M 1,} M _2), any of the said box (P) of the cooking vessel (H) according to claim 1 to 10, wherein Paste or adhering to the portion forming a packaging material Process. The first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) each have an adhesive strength greater than the maximum magnetic force that can be exerted between the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ). 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the process is adhered to the packaging material. At least one of the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ), preferably both, is applied to the packaging material, in particular the packaging blank (B), the container part (H), the lid (L). The process according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the process is received and received in a recess provided in a part of the inner frame (F). Wherein the first and second magnetic closure element _{(M 1,} M _2), any of the processes of the laminated packaging material with or adhere claims 1 to 13, wherein the carrier substrate such as a label. One of the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) is a permanent magnet, and the other of the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) is a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the process is made of a material such as a ferrous metal that reacts, or both of the first and second magnetic closure elements (M ₁ , M ₂ ) are permanent magnets. .

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